Archive for January, 2011

March of 2010 brought me something new in life… Acne! Never in my life did I ever suffer from acne until I entered my 30s. Sure, I would get the occasional pimple right before my monthly cycle, but that was it. Nothing more. I always figured I was blessed with good skin, and never even knew about hormonal acne. Not that I ever wanted to, but it’s definitely be an eye-opening experience.

Before I realized I had hormonal acne, I called my dermatologist (at the time), and he told me to use Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash. Nope, no luck! I started to use Clean & Clear Advantage facial cleanser and moisturizer with no luck either. Talk about major frustration! I mean, here I am with an otherwise clear face, minus the multitude of whiteheads along my chin and jawline. My poor face almost hurt to even wash because of the whiteheads! I felt WAY ugly and I was entering a state of depression.

Needless to say, I started spending a lot of time researching on Makeup Alley and Acne.org, and I’ve learned a lot. From the questions I asked and symptoms I described, the Skin Care Board members of MUA told me I seemed to be experiencing hormonal acne. Given their recommendations and other information I gathered from reading, I started taking spironolactone, and added in supplements such as fish oil, zinc and vitamin D. The breakouts have since stopped, and the acne I had has cleared up. Sadly, I’m now left with acne marks.

About a month ago I began using Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel Pads. I remembered a girl on forum I belonged to previously who used the peel pads (this was back when it was a two-step process), and had a lot of success with her old acne marks clearing up. My acne marks have begun fading, and my face is smoother and clearer than I can remember in about a year. About two weeks ago I ended up adding in Olay Night Resurfacing Elixir as well as Walgreen’s Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream. Yet even more improvement, but I still have acne marks that are slightly visible.

I have learned that my face isn’t too fond of salicylic acid (BHA), but seems to love AHAs (I’ve been using glycolic acid). While I’m still new to the whole skin care game, I’m learning more and more daily. I’m now delving into the realm of learning more about retinoids (vitamn A), niacinamide (vitamin B), and vitamins C & E. I do have an appointment with a new dermatologist this month, so I’ll be sure to ask as many questions as I need to learn as much as I can.

Quite honestly, this whole experience has been extremely insightful and has been curious enough that I’m debating in going to school for skin care. My cousin is an esthetician with her own salon back, so I’m sure she’ll be a valuable source of information. A really good friend starts school herself in March, and I can’t wait to learn whatever she shares! Don’t you just love it when you find a new interest?!

Hello my loves, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I know I’ve been gone for AGES, and I do apologize! Life was kind of taking priority, and I’ve just been hanging out taking a break. I have a feeling the direction of my blog might change a bit, but who knows… We’ll see how it goes!

While I was away, I did decide to give up some of my polishes… So, this is your time to gain!

I prefer a minimum order of $10.00, and please feel free to make reasonable offers. Purchases of $15 or more can pick a $1 polish for free, and purchases over $20 can pick two polishes from the $1 polishes. Pictures can be taken of all items by request.

Shipping is $2.50 for the first bottle and $0.50 for each additional polish, up to a maximum of $5 unless you buy more than I can fit into a flat-rate box (which can fit anywhere from 6-8 polishes). I will ship worldwide. International ladies, I will use First-Class International or Priority International, whichever is cheapest.

I accept PayPal only, and payment needs to be made within 48 hours of being invoiced. Items will only be held for 24 hours before I move on to the next request. For a quicker response, please message me on MUA. I’d also be willing to swap for the following items: Nicole Spark My Mistletoe & OPI Smitten with Mittens. Feel free to check my MUA wishlist in case there’s something on there I can be swayed with

Polishes are listed by price in alphabetical brand-name order. Unless noted, all polishes are BN, have only been swatched, or have been used no more than 2x.

$5.00 each
Nubar Cherry Cordial
Nubar Iced Licorice

$4.00 each
Essie Barbados Blue
Essie Looking For Love
Essie Swept Off My Feet
Nicole Truth Or Lilac?
OPI 3 Plums, I Win!
OPI A Grape Fit!
OPI And This Little Piggy…
OPI Black Onyx
OPI Charge It In Milan
OPI Charged Up Cherry (OF)
OPI Cozu-melted In The Sun (OF)
OPI Don’t Melbourne The Toast
OPI DS Jewel
OPI Fair Dinkum Pinkum
OPI Fit For A Queensland
OPI Holy Pink Pagoda!
OPI How To Jamaica Million (OF)
OPI I’d Like To Thank…
OPI It’s A Doozi, Says Suzi
OPI Jewel Of India
OPI Kennebunk-port (OF)
OPI Lincoln Park After Dark Suede
OPI Log On To Love
OPI Mauving To Manitoba
OPI My Big Break
OPI Nice Color, Eh?
OPI Pink-ing Of You
OPI Queen Of West Web-erly
OPI Rosy Mistletoe-sies
OPI Royal Flush Blush
OPI Ruble For Your Thoughts
OPI Shootout At The O.K. Coral
OPI SoHo Nice To Meet You (OF)
OPI Sonora Sunset
OPI Stars In My Eyes
OPI Strawberry Margarita
OPI The More The Berrier (OF)
OPI Tijuana Dance?
OPI Venus Di Violet
OPI Who Needs A Prince?
OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue! (NO LABEL)
SpaRitual Marvel
SpaRitual She’s A River
Zoya Charlize
Zoya Harlow
Zoya Harmonie
Zoya Suvi
Zoya Tangy

$3.00 each
ChG 5 Golden Rings
ChG Caribbean Temptation
ChG Chiaroscuro
ChG Coral Star
ChG Flying Dragon
ChG Light As Air
ChG Sexy In The City
ChG Something Sweet
ChG Spontaneous
ChG Tempest
CND Tart-A-Licious
Essie Como
Essie Munis Mauve
Essie Potato Fields
Finger Paints A Collector’s Dream
Finger Paints Art of Theft
Finger Paints Art You Blue?
Finger Paints Signed By The Artist
Hard Candy Rumor Mill
L’Oreal Color Of Hope
L’Oreal Ocean Breeze
Milani Tailor Made
Nicole Mall Queen Mauve
Nicole Pick Me Up Purple
OPI Malaysian Mist (75%)
OPI Sweet Heart (75%)
Orly Garnet Finish
Orly Je T’Aime
Orly Super Natural
Orly Take The Plunge
SH American Beauty
SH Crushed Velvet
SH Exotic Magenta
SH Mulberry
SH Silver Lining

$2.00 each
Avon Blue Flare
Avon Golden Wine
Avon Midnight Plum
Avon Pearl Shine
ChG Flat Top Matte Finish
ChG Sweet Cream Pink
ChG Your Touch (75%)
Chi In Between The Sheets
Claire’s Envy
Color Club Almost Famous
Color Club Wham! Pow!
Color Paw Starry Night
CQ Shimmering Bark
Diamond Cosmetics Hi Ho Silver
Diamond Cosmetics Metallic Venom
Diamond Cosmetics Monarch Masquerade
Femme Couture Red Caviar
Icing Blackout
OPI Wyatt Earple Purple (50%)
Orly Quite Contrary Berry (75%)
Revlon Grey Suede
SH Fire Opal Nail Prisms
SH Flair
SH Flame Opal
SH Honeydew (50%)
SH Insta-Dri Speed Dry Drops
SH Night Hydrangea (50% – Separate jar)
SH Pale Lilac Opal
SH Spark

$1.00 each
Confetti Belle Of The Ball
Confetti Cherries Jubilee
Confetti Happy Birthday!
Confetti Just Dancin
Confetti Masquerade Ball
Confetti My Favorite Martian
Confetti Pink Confetti
Confetti Purple Reigns
Confetti Smitten
Confetti The Red Carpet
French Colors Acid
Love My Nails All That
Love My Nails Dazzling
Maybelline Blue Aluminum
Maybelline Brown Aluminum
Maybelline Lime Aluminum
Maybelline Matte Blue
Maybelline Matte Brownie
Maybelline Matte Plum
Maybelline Pink Glaze
Maybelline Plum Aluminum
Maybelline Poolside Plum
Maybelline Purple Aluminum
Maybelline Sweetie Pie
Maybelline Violet Aluminum
NYC Manhattan
NYC Mulberry Street
NYC Park Ave
NYC Red Stiletto
NYC West Village
NYX Shell
NYX Techno (50% – Separate jar)
Petites Black Diamond
Petites Periwinkle (more blue)
Petites Periwinkle (more purple)
Petites Wild Plum
Pure Ice Electric!
Rimmel Climax
Rimmel Violet Metal
SH Black Diamond
SH Black Out
SH Blue Chip Frost
SH Craze Frost
SH Diamonds
SH Earthen Opal
SH Lucky Crème
SH Marble Crème
SH No Chip Acrylic Top Coat
SH Opulent Frost
SH Ruby Stilettos
SH Tailored Crème
SH Wild Life
WnW Bijou Blue
WnW Bite The Bullet